“As a one time Penske fan [I moved on once both Rusty and Ryan were gone], I was thrilled to see Kurt dominate the race in Atlanta. It was great to see David Stremme showing strong too. In my last article I even mentioned that Kurt would be a good darkhorse pick to win. Thankfully, I put Kurt on several of my Fantasy NASCAR game rosters and he came through for me! Now, Kurt Busch wants you to name his latest version of a post-race celebration- the victory lap driven in reverse. 
Kurt wants to name his backwards victory lap. This is your chance to come up with a cool name for the victory lap. Email your ideas to Kristy Cloutier at kristy [@] kurtbusch.com. One lucky race fan will be able to say they named the lap. The winning name and the race fan name will be announced on our website and Kurt will talk about it on national television. The winning race fan will receive a Kurt Busch gift basket. Good luck to everyone. Send your emails by March 18, 2009.
Uh, OK…. I guess. You see, it’s this sort of silly stuff that Kurt comes up with that just makes me wonder about him. A backwards victory lap? What the….? I can’t tell if Kurt is just nerdy or if he’s genuinely just having fun. I want to say it’s the later. However, it’s like he goes out of his way trying to be cool or something, and for me it usually just comes across as corny, not cool (e.g. Kurt’s snow angels).
If you want cool, see the numerous backflips from Carl Edwards. Or (my personal favorite) the celebration routine his brother performs is the coolest celebration of them all. Park the car on the Start/Finish line, stand on the window sill, take a bow with a smoke filled back drop. Now that is C-O-O-L. You’ll get to see it numerous times this year, and it doesn’t need a name!
Speaking of “numerous” celebrations. Is Kurt is getting ahead of himself a bit here? In order for a post-race celebration to get a name, shouldn’t said celebration be a common enough occurrence that it needs or warrants a name? What if Kurt goes another 50+ races* before getting another win? Will anyone remember what we’re supposed to call the victory celebration? Will even Kurt remember? What if by then Kurt decides that jumping-jacks are the thing to do in victory lane?
Perhaps this “getting ahead of themselves” is some sort of internal condition within “Penske Championship Racing.” As Mike recently pointed out, On the subject of Penske Championship Racing, shouldn’t they have to win a NASCAR championship before applying that title? I realize Penske has 10 CART/IRL championships and that Kurt Busch and Rusty Wallace were both past champions, but it’s not quite the same. It would be like me suddenly dubbing myself Dr. Mike Maruska.” 
I’ll tell you what, if Kurt can pull off three wins this season, and he does reverse driven victory laps after each of them, then I’ll say his celebration warrants a name of it’s own. However, he has to do the entire lap in reverse. It doesn’t matter if the trunk is pancaked up from an accident or if the win comes at Pocono and he has to drive that track backwards. The whole lap must be done in reverse, and it needs tweaked a little bit by adding some smoke! Maybe then Kurt can take a little from Carl, and a little from Kyle, and perform The Smokey Backlap.”
Anyway, that’s the name I sent in to Kristy. What do you think? Does Kurt Busch’s victory lap need a name, and if so, what would you call it?
James Jones, PHD
[Yes, I have a Post Hole Digger.]
*I know it’s not been 50+ races since Kurt won a race. Technically Kurt won a race in 2008, but it was a lucky win handed to him by the rain. He had not chance of winning that race, but a win is a win. However, Kurt’s last “win” came over 50 races ago back in 2007.”